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Ernst warns GOP about being overconfident in 2024 victories

News

July 18th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa)  – U-S Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says next month’s DEMOCRATIC National Convention will be a spectacle. “Get the popcorn ready,” she said, “because this is going to be the most hilarious exercise that we have ever seen.” Ernst spoke to the Iowa delegation at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee yesterday (Wednesday).

“For well over a year now when I am meeting with national political figure, when I a meeting with Iowans, I’ve been saying: ‘I’m a conspiracy theorist. I don’t think President Biden is going to be the nominee,'” Ernst said. “Well, now that’s kind of coming to fruition.” Ernst points to an Associated Press poll that found two-thirds of Democrats do not want Biden as their 2024 nominee.

“While I don’t want to say we’re going to waltz into the White House with Donald J. Trump this fall — we can’t take it for granted, I don’t want you to take it for granted — but I can tell you with the enthusiasm and the excitement that we have felt during this convention and what we will feel leading up to the election, we are going to sweep this election,” Ernst said.

Ernst says the tide is turning in key U-S Senate races and there are tremendous odds Republicans will win a majority of seats in the Senate this fall. Ernst won election to a second term in the senate in 2020 and plans to seek a third term in 2026.

DeSantis warns Iowa Republicans Biden unlikely to be Democrats’ nominee

News

July 18th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is urging Iowa Republicans to be wary because he doubts Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. DeSantis spoke yesterday (Wednesday) at a luncheon for Iowa delegates at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. He said the knives are out for Biden.

“The entire media that’s trying to push Biden out, they’re doing that for a reason,” DeSantis said. “They’re not doing it to help Trump. They’re doing it to beat Trump because they think they need a different candidate to do it.” DeSantis says it would be rare for someone in Biden’s position to set aside — and a Biden versus Trump rematch would turn out well for Republicans. “But I think we need to prepare that something can happen,” DeSantis said, “and something probably will.”

DeSantis was the second place finisher in the Iowa G-O-P’s Caucuses in January. There’s speculation he’ll run again for president in 2028.

Seibert Earns Promotion with Iowa MBB

Sports

July 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Long-time University of Iowa men’s basketball staff member Al Seibert has added the role of General Manager to his Chief of Staff duties with the program.

Seibert is entering his 14th season on head coach Fran McCaffery’s staff, including stints as the director of operations and video coordinator.

In his expanded role, Seibert becomes the program’s point person between athletics administration and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). He will direct a recruiting process for NIL, while maintaining the NIL-related records and contracts for student-athletes.

Seibert will also serve as the program’s liaison with the Athletics Department senior staff.

Prior to joining the Hawkeyes, Seibert served as head coach at the University of New Haven from 2005-10.  He also spent time coaching at the University of Hartford, Western Kentucky, Duquesne and Pittsburgh.

FREYLER A WUERFFEL TROPHY/AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM NOMINEE

Sports

July 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior defensive back Beau Freyler is a nominee for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, a pair of awards recognizing players for their performance on the field as well as their impact in the community. 

Freyler, a Colorado Springs, Colorado, native, has been a significant contributor to the Cyclone football program since first stepping on campus in 2021. He was a co-captain in 2023 and earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press after compiling 107 tackles and three interceptions. He became the 10th player in program history to earn Academic All-America honors.

Freyler has made 25 career starts, including 22 consecutive, and played in 37 games.

At Iowa State’s annual O.S.C.A.R.S. celebration, Freyler took home the Cyclone Serve Award, presented to the male and female athletes with the most community hours served during the 2023-24 academic year.

Iowa-ISU Game Sold Out

Sports

July 17th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa’s 2024 home football contest against Iowa State on Sept. 7 at 2:30 p.m. CT, scheduled at Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium, is officially sold out. The announcement was made Wednesday by the UI Athletics Department.
Single game tickets went on sale to donors and season ticket holders beginning Monday. Tickets to Iowa’s other six home games go on sale to the general public tomorrow (Thursday) at 9 a.m. (CT).
Currently, less than 500 tickets remain for Troy (Sept. 14, 3 p.m.), and fewer than 1,600 are left for Illinois State (Aug. 31, 11 a.m.), Northwestern (Oct. 26, 2:30 p.m.), Wisconsin (Nov. 2, TBD) and Nebraska (Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m.). Approximately 2,100 tickets are available for the contest against Washington (Oct. 12, TBD).
Limited Hawkeye Village Ticket & Tailgate packages remain for select home games. Secure your game tickets and the best gameday tailgate here: hawkeyesports.com/hawkeye-village/
Tickets are only sold and issued by the UI Athletics Ticket Office and its authorized agents. Persons buying tickets from other entities do so at their own risk. Fans should use caution if buying tickets from unauthorized outlets and are strongly encouraged to use SeatGeek, the official fan to fan marketplace of Hawkeyes, for sold out events. The UI Athletic Ticket Office (hawkeyesports.com/tickets) is only able to service/support purchases made through that office, or on SeatGeek. Iowa Athletics reserves the right to cancel any ticket purchases, less fees, made for the purpose of resale without notification.
All tickets for University of Iowa athletic events are distributed electronically and should be downloaded to a smartphone device. If you do not have access to a smartphone, please contact the ticket office to make arrangements.
Tickets are distributed no earlier than three weeks prior to the start of a season. If applicable, season tickets and/or parking will not be released until all required contributions have been received and processed by the I-Club. For more information, please visit hawkeyesports.com/mobiletickets.

Tornado clean up continues in eastern Iowa

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – City crews in Davenport and Bettendorf have been working non-stop to clear fallen trees, power lines, and debris after Monday night’s tornado. Scott County Emergency Management Deputy Director Jim Hawkes says the E-F-1 tornado which tore through eight miles of the cities left a tangle in its wake.

“There’s a lot of tree damage, a lot of powerline damage. The cities are dealing a lot with trees that are tangled up in powerlines and they’ve been unable to clean them up,” he says. As of this (Wednesday) morning, power has been restored to most of the area.

Many trees were damaged in the Davenport tornado. (NWS photo)

The total damage to homes and businesses is still being tallied, but the governor did issue a disaster proclamation for Scott and four other counties for the storms. At least two families were forced to find shelter through the Red Cross due to the damage.

Iowa City woman injured a motorcycle crash following a pursuit

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Tiffin, Iowa) – A 20-year-old woman was injured during a single-vehicle accident this (Wednesday) morning in eastern Iowa’s Johnson County. The Iowa State Patrol reports Tessa Mae Galloway, of Iowa City, was clocked traveling on a motorcycle at a high rate of speed near Tiffin on southbound Interstate 380 near mile-marker 2, at around 8:35-a.m.

A State Trooper attempted a traffic stop on the 2005 Honda CBR motorcycle Galloway was operating, but she failed to comply. During a resulting pursuit, Galloway failed to negotiate a curve on the I-380 southbound to I-80 eastbound flyover. The motorcycle went out of control and crashed.

Galloway was transported by ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. A report on her condition was not released. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Tiffin Fire, the Iowa DOT and another agency.

The crash remains under investigation.

Reynolds says RNC2024 shows there’s ‘clarity’ among Republicans

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says this week’s Republican National Convention is far different from eight years ago when supporters of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz were feuding and Trump won the 2016 nomination with the lowest percentage of delegates in 40 years.

“This is the most united party I have ever seen. It is electric on the floor. The energy, the commitment, you know especially after the assassination attempt on Saturday,” Reynolds said during an interview with Radio Iowa. “I mean there just is a clarity there.”

Tuesday night’s convention speeches from Trump’s 2024 GOP competitors show they are “all in” for Trump, according to Reynolds. “It was really good to have them there, to have them up on stage and just to show the full support for a united Republican Party,” Reynolds said. “Such a contrast from what we’re seeing from the Democratic Party.”

Tonight’s marquee speech is from J.D. Vance, the Ohio senator Trump has picked as his running mate. Reynolds said she’s “biased toward governors” and was secretly hoping North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum would be V-P, but she says the 39-year-old Vance will appeal to younger voters, a critical voting block.

Governor Kim Reynolds (center) and other Republican governors at RNC in Milwaukee. (Republican Governors Association’ photo)

“We talk a lot about restoring the possibility of the American Dream,” Reynolds said. “I feel like it’s been crushed over the last year years and he’s lived it. That’s really his life story.”

Reynolds expects Trump to deliver”an optimistic, hopeful speech” at the convention Thursday. Reynolds endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last November and campaigned with him before the Iowa Caucuses. She publicly endorsed Trump after “Super Tuesday” primary results in March showed Trump had the necessary support to secure the 2024 presidential nomination.

Grassley calls for far-reaching probe into Trump assassination attempt

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s launching a multi-pronged investigation into last weekend’s assassination attempt on former President Trump. Calling it a “very dark day in American politics,” Grassley says he’s requesting records and responses from several key federal agencies regarding what he says was a “monumental security failure.”

“I have a very good investigative staff,” Grassley says. “That staff has already been in direct contact with the Secret Service. I’ll be following up with the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and of course, the FBI.” Grassley says he’s also contacting the Department of Justice and the Homeland Security Inspector General.

He’s calling for a review of all policies and procedures, telling agency leaders in a letter: “You owe Congress and the American people full and complete transparency on how this tragedy could possibly occur.” Grassley says the lack of information from the various agencies is “unacceptable.” Grassley says, “The American people need assurances that the federal agencies are doing all that they possibly can to protect against future violence and potential loss of life.”

Senator Grassley. (photo from Senate Budget Committee hearing) File Photo

Trump was shot in the ear while speaking onstage in Pennsylvania on Saturday. One rally attendee was killed and two were badly injured. The gunman was killed by law enforcement.

Grassley says the Secret Service needs to provide a thorough accounting to the public, to assure them past problems have been corrected and that the agency “is fully and effectively carrying out its core mission: protection.”

Athens, GA man arrested following a pursuit in 2 counties, Tuesday

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A man from Athens, Georgia, was arrested Tuesday evening, following a pursuit that took place in two western Iowa Counties. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a 2020 Toyota Camry driven by 58-year-old Paul William Bolin, was traveling westbound on Highway 141 at a high rate of speed. When he approached and passed a Guthrie County Deputy’s squad car, his speed was clocked at 83 mph.

When Deputy Kirkpatrick sped up to pace the car, the Toyota increased its speed. The Deputy activated his emergency lights and sirens and engaged in a pursuit at around 4:57-p.m., but Bolin refused to yield. His vehicle sped-up to 97 mph and passed several cars at a high rate of speed. The Sheriff’s report says after Bolin ran a stop sign at the intersection of Highways 141 and 71 north, Bolin pulled over, and finally stopped near Falcon Avenue after other law enforcement officers assisted in the bringing the incident to its conclusion at around 5:07-p.m.

Bolin had a .22-caliber pistol in the center console of the Camry. A check of his criminal history indicated Bolin (who identified himself as “God”), had no warrants, and was not a felon. He is, however, disqualified from possessing a firearm. Bolin was arrested on Guthrie County charges that include Speeding in road work zones (11-to 20 mph over the posted limit), and Dominion of firearm/offensive weapon by a felon.

His charges in Carroll County include Failure to Obey a traffic control device, and Eluding (Speed 25 mph+ over the limit). Bond, at the Guthrie County Jail, was set at $5,000.